MBTA & Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Partner To Heighten Awareness About New Law That Bans “Up-Skirting”

Awareness Campaign Launched across Subway & Bus System

BOSTON – April 17, 2014 - MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan and Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Executive Director Gina Scaramella unveiled the MBTA’s newest public awareness campaign this morning at the Back Bay MBTA station in Boston. Three hundred ads are currently being placed on buses and subway cars throughout the MBTA system reminding customers that the unwanted photographing of a person’s private areas is against the law. The campaign comes after Governor Deval Patrick recently signed a new law prohibiting the unwanted photographing of a person’s private areas in public places, including the MBTA.

“The MBTA Transit Police are proud to continue our work on sexual assault awareness with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center,” said MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan. “Those who attempt to invade others’ privacy while riding the MBTA should know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and this new law will help us to prosecute those who do.”

The new carcards read “You have a right to privacy. Secretly photographing a person’s private area is against the law.” They also remind customers that if they experience this type of behavior to call 911 or report it using the MBTA Transit Police’s “See Something, Say Something” app for smartphones. Transit Police have received over a dozen reported incidents of this nature, commonly referred to as “up-skirting,” over the past three years.

"The Transit Police have been a strong partner to address issues of sexual assault and harassment since 2008, said Executive Director of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Gina Scaramella. “This is an example of the effective work we can do together.”